Reagent feeder



Dec. 30,, 1930. THOMAS 1,787,289

REAGENT FEEDER Filed No v. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEQKGE GvTuomes ATTORNE-IY Dec. 30, 1930. s. G. THOMAS 1,787,239

REAGENT FEEDER Filed Nov. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I j BY- ATTORNEYPatentecl Dec. 30, 19,30

. ,STTES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE-G. THOMAS, or iLLsIn-E, ARIZONA, AssrenoaT AMERICAN CYANAMID COM- PANY, on NEW YORK, n. Y., A coarona'rron 0EMAINE REAGENT FEEDER I Applicationi filed.November 28', 1928. Serial No.322,341.

My present invention relates to a device and method for feeding solidmaterial in regulated amounts, or feeding solutions by meas uring thesolid in the dry state. 7

v The invention is particularly adapted-for the feeding of dry materialswhich are to be dissolved in a solvent and the solution used for variouspurposes, rather than to dissolve the substance and then feed quantitiesof the solution. f

"It has been very common practice in the art of floating-ores to usethis'latter process of feeding reagents, but it'has been found in numberof instances, particularly where the c to reagent or apart thereof iseither difhcultly soluble or contains some insoluble matter, that if theliquid material is attempted to be measured and-fed to the apparatus,frequently the feeding mechanism becomes clogged by the insol-ubles'ubstance contained in the solution. The principal object of theinvention, therefore, is to "overcomethis difficulty.

To this end the invention contemplates the provision of a hopperadaptedto contain the solid material to be fed, in the lower part of which islocated a feed worm of any desired type which will cause movement of thesolid material in the hopper to a discharge pipe where itwill enter-thedissolving tank or other mechanism. Means are provided forintermittently driving the feed worm at various intervals capable ofad]ustment,andby "this means the amount of feed is positivelycontrolled.

The invention further consists in the novel arrangement, combination andconstruction of parts and combination of steps more (fully hereinafterdescribed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a device embodying my invention. I

2 is an enlarged perspective view of the drive and worm detail.

Referring now with particularity to the stantially of inverted pyramidalshape which terminates in a throat 4. A slide 5 is pro vided for closingon the throat when it is The throat t connects with a worm housing (Einwl ich islocated a feed worm 7 of the usual helicalform having one endof its shaft journaled in housing 6. Near the other end is a flangemember 8 secured to the shaft by set screws 84. To the flange 8 aratchet member 9 is secured as by means of shear pins 9a,. The wormhousing 6 is provided with an orificeat the bottom thereof, whichorifice is covered by a discharge pipe 10 through which the material fedby the feed screw is dis charged for use as will be more fully-describedhereinafter.

The feed worm is intermittently rotated."

through the ratchet 9 which receives its impulse through a connection tothe drive shaft 11. This shaft is connected to a suitable source ofenergy as by means ofbelt 12. The shaft 11 is provided at one end with aworm 13 meshing with a gear 14 which latter element through shaft 15rotates a crank plate 16. This plate 16 is provided with a series ofapertures 17 for adpisting the stroke of the connecting rod which inturn determines cated'as at 20 to receivc one end of the pawl arm 21.The other end of the pawl arm is pivoted to the shaft of the feed worm.Pivoted to the pawl arm 21 is'the pawl 22 which is caused. to bearagainst and engage the series of teeth 23 on the ratchet 9. Non-reversepawls 24 mounted upon an extension 25 of the gear box 26 are likewisepressed against the ratchet 9 by means of springs 2?, and prevent areverse movement of the ratchet.

Also geared to the element 13 and driven from shaft 11 is an agitatorshaft 28 carrying agitators or impellers 29. Surrounding these agitatorsis a basketor screen 30 contained within a receiving or dissolving tank31Ybut spaced therefrom. The discharge pipe is so located as to dumpmaterial therefrom dir ctly into the basket or screen 30. i

Water or other solvent or menstruum. is

supplied to the receiving or dissolvin tank 31 by any desired means, notshoivn, preferably in a regulated stream, and this solvent or menstruumWith the rea ent dissolved or suspended therein overflows from a'lip ofm the tank, to the apparatus for using thesame. The operation or thedevice-1s as follows: lt having been determined which of the apertures17 should belused, the connectingrodi is secured to'the plate 16 atrthatpoint, the

slide 6 opened and the motor started. .jThrough the gear train the'plate16 Will be .rotated Whichea-uses a reciprocation or the r connecting rod18, and througl'l it and the pawl arni21 an intermittent up and downmotionof the driving pawl- 22.

This causes ise rotation an intermittent counter-sleek of the ratchet 9.As this lattereleinent is attached to the shaft of the feed ivoru'i,this Wormlikevvise rotates intermittently and shaftll. This assists inanifonnl f c causes-the solid material within the hopper to jinovetoward the dlscharge p1 pe where t entersthe dissolving or receivingtank.

It vill be noted that means are provided for agitating the'mat-erlalWith n the'oissolvingor-receiving :tank, also. driven ireni theingthereagent in the solvent or mens'u uum r qm which it flows to thedevice or mocha; Y nism for utilizing the same.

Tole invention conten'lplates, therefore, the

feedingof a solid reagent intermittently to a'tank also supplied with aconstant stream of liquid menstruum, the feeding of both the solidreagent and the liquid to the tank is so regulated that a substantiallyconstant quantity of the reagent either dissolved in the menstruum orsuspended therein, overflows from the tan'k and finds its vvay to theliota-f tion or other apparatus designed to use the material. Theagitation provided in recei ing tank is or" materialbenelit in that itserves to make a more uniform distribution of the reagent eventhough thereagent is only in termittently fed-to the recei ingtank.

The screen serves the purpose of retaining any large lumps Which mayfind their Way. through the discharge pipe until they have hadsufficient time to be acted upon by the regulated menstruum In theoperation of. the device a CGItHlH'ELIDOLHlt oi solid matecra nk disc svers tofore experienced with delivering a solution or suspension or thereagent. Obviously Jthe seri es of apertures 1'? in the plate 16. are

so arranged that any desired movement of the reagent may take placeWithin the Worm housing (land this degree of movement is regulated onlyby the movement of teeth on "the ratchet 9.

. Ztj vill be observed that the shear pin connection between theratchetmember 9 and Worm shaft serve toprevent breakage in other vitalparts of the apparatus if the'feed Worm should fail for any reason.These pins 9a may be made ofany desired-material designed to Withstand agiven amount of tendency to shear.@

tor shaft bythe same orm that drives the wit very. compact mechanismresults." f

ltis to be noted that the non return paWls are oil?- different lengthand this serves to ac ourat'elv operate the feed change device.

By providing a flexible discharge pipe it may be swung. out from thedissolvingFtank tor effecting the calibration of the device,

l'th s 1s animportant feature ofthe apcomprises I intermittentlydelivering a I quant thereofito a IGCQIVIHJ' tank constantl supplyingaquantity of liquidmenstruum uid menstruum to the-receiving tank, and anagitator Within the basket. f I I I 'In'testnnony whereofll havehereunto subscrlbed my name this second day or; Novem ber,1928. I 1

' GEORGE THOMAS.

I'lllWlll be thrown' against the screen by the impellers under theaction of centrifugal force and held bythe screen until the liuid streamset up bythe agitator has had time to dissolve this solid matter.

' From" the above itis seenthat I have provided botha method andapparatus for feeding a solid reagent ina manner which will definitelyprevent clogging of the feeding apparatus,which overcomes thedetect-shore It is to be noted that by driving the agita- Ainethod oilteedin'g areagent which

